Thursday, May 31, 2012

For my card today I chose a set from Unity Stamps that I hadn't yet inked: Love You To Pieces. I think it's so cute!

I stamped my main images with Riding Hood Red ink and then stamped the background panel behind the circle with Crumb Cake ink. The flower (MFT) was cut from the beautiful Sweet Tooth Merino Wool felt that Stamp School carries.

I sewed around the edges of each panel and added some twine (PTI) to complete the sketch.

My colors are from Color Throwdown 194. I love this color combo, and although I had to substitute the RHR for the Poppy Parade, I still have a few pieces of Soft Sky left! It was one of my favorite colors! I am hoping that Pool Party is similar (although that one is retired today too!).

The Deconstructed Sketch girls have some terrific samples to show, so be sure to have a visit at their blogs too!

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My niece and sister-in-law just completed a hot air balloon ride this
week over the skies of Southern California. I think it sounds exciting,
but I would be scared to death to do it!

This gorgeous collage stamp from I Brake For Stamps is available three different ways. I have used the Large Paris Balloon Collage, which is 3 x 4". My card is 5 1/2" square. The Small Paris Balloon Collage is 1 3/4 x 21/4". Both are available in the beautiful Paris and Heart Collage Full Sheet(I
have the hearts too, and love them!). I stamped on my designer paper
(Tim Holtz Ideology) with VersaFine Onyx Black ink. Easy! Added a shabby
seam binding bow with crocheted lace, a vintage button, and some paper roses for
embellishments.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Happy Sunday to you! I love scrunching up ribbon. If I had a cat, I am sure it would love it too! :)
I used Stampin' Up's Cherry Cobbler striped grosgrain ribbon and Scor-Tape and gave some dimension to my little card. It measures approx. 6 x 3 1/2 inches.

My images are by Rubbernecker Stamps from the Cats Set. So many fun cats and sentiments! This sentiment says "Women and Cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Click on the photo above for a clearer, close-up view.

I think those cats on my card are doing as they please, hanging from the ceiling, stretching and taking up room, and bouncing off the walls. I feel like that some days! :)

Saturday, May 26, 2012

I am pleased to take part in this very special hop honoring our military personnel.

If you are not familiar with Operation Write Home, please click HERE. Basically, their mission is: "Supporting
our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to
write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." Isn't that awesome? Click here to get involved!

My card today is made with images by Hambo Stamps -- a proud supporter of OWH. Click here to see images from Hop Art Designs - where ALL proceeds go to OWH!

I used Tank and Many Tanks for my images. The designer paper is Glory by Authentique. I chose Sketch #6 and turned it on its side. Click either photo for a clearer, close-up view!

Thank you to all the military personnel and their families for the sacrifices you made/make for my freedom!

Friday, May 25, 2012

Time to begin your weekend! What better way to start than with a piece of yummy cake!?

Chef Charlotte (I Brake for Stamps) is here with her birthday wishes for my mother-in-law, who is celebrating her 82nd birthday today!

The inside of the card uses a sentiment from Half Sheet #052. It says "Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live." Perfect! Click on either photo for a clearer close-up!

I
stamped Chef Charlotte with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then colored
in using just a few Copic markers for highlights and cake color. I added
a little candle to the dotted bow for fun.
My Hot Pink Checkerboard Ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Wow, did that week fly. A week ago I was writing a post the night before my trip to see my daughter. I can't believe I am home again already. We had a great time shopping, eating, hiking and hanging out! I miss her!

I used Bloom & Simplify by Unity Stamps for my images. I stamped the sentiment and flower in Blue Bayou ink, then watercolored in some So Saffron and Blue Bayou ink. The sentiment was stamped again (without reinking) onto the flower circle to continue the words without overpowering the flower.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Today the Sisterhood is showcasing stamps of a "garden variety." If you arrived here from Joan Ervin's beautiful blog, you are in the right spot! If not, start back at Anne Harmon's blog, because you will want to see each beautiful creation today, and have a chance at winning some fabulous prizes!

There are so many beautiful garden sets and individual floral stamps at Rubbernecker Stamps. I chose to make a card that really focused on the stamping and the stamps. I LOVE layers and designer paper and embellishments, but today I chose to just stamp!

I masked off a section of my cardstock and sponged Not Quite Navy and Rich Razzleberry ink in the background on Whisper White. I then stamped Floral #1 with the same two ink colors. The NQN image was stamped off first before adding it to the card while still masked. I took the masking off and then stamped the Rich Razzleberry images. I debated about adding a sentiment, but in the end decided to leave it for the inside of the card.

We are having a garden word search with our hop today and my word is DIG. Can you dig it?! Every hopper that leaves love along the way, collects the garden words from each blog, and leaves a comment at the Stampin' Sisterhood blog at the end of the hop (with email) will receive a code via email for 15% off your entire Rubbernecker order! There is much more fun to be had with more prizes too, so be sure to read all the deets at the end of the hop!

Now onto my lovely friend,Julia Aston, who has a gorgeous creation for you today!
Hop Route:

Friday, May 18, 2012

Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you
fun creations that depict TV show titles! It might be our favorite show,
or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Melissa's blog you are in the right place! If not, you might want to
start back at the beginning at Talk to the Ham to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one customer participant whose TV-themed creation
tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! Another prize
will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along
the way. The winners will
be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company
blog, Talk to the Ham,
on Wednesday, May 23.

Love this stamp! I inked it up with VersaFine Onyx Black, then embossed with Black Detail Embossing Powder. I colored it with Copic Markers. The sentiment sticker is by Heidi Grace. I added bling with Crystal Stickles to Mrs. Douglas' pendant and collar. She has to wear jewels, you know.

I am sure you can figure out my TV show - definitely not my favorite by a long shot! I am more of a CSI kind of gal. Arnold was my favorite character on Green Acres, so American Goth Pigs are especially appropriate.

If you watch long enough Oliver will move his pitchfork:

And for those of you that just LOVE the song (haha!) go ahead and have a listen (it will be stuck in your head ALL day -- you're welcome!). Click here.

Thank you for joining us today as we shared our TV show creations! Don't forget to leave love along the way so you are eligible for the prize~!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Today is my first official day of summer! WOOT! And I am on my way to Utah to see my daughter for a week! We had two wonderful talent shows at my school yesterday with acts from piano to magic tricks to tap dance to flag line to string quintet. All sorts of fun things. But now I am ready for a vacation! So last night I was BUZZING around trying to get ready to go!

I used the ADORABLE bee from The Alley Way Stamps' Priceless Joy set. I stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored in using Copic Markers Y02, Y08, C3 and BV29. The chipboard letters were stamped with Charcoal VersaMark ink and then embossed with Midnight Madness and Firefly Embossing Powder.I have Crystal Stickles on the bee's wings.

The Deconstructed Sketch girls have some terrific samples to show, so be sure to have a visit at their blogs too!

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Time really does fly as you get older! Seems like I was just fretting about getting my taxes done by April 15 and here is it May 15 already! And tomorrow is my last day of teaching for this school year! I am teaching a fun summer school class on ocean creatures to first and second graders, but the regular year is almost in the books!

And it's time for another fun challenge from Really Reasonable Ribbon! The theme for Challenge #48 is Father's Day/Masculine with Ribbon or Trim.
Create a card, layout,
multi media piece, tag, ATC, hair bow, you name it. Just be sure to
follow the theme above and use ribbon/lace or trim somewhere on your
project.

Here is my submission:

My images are some of my favorites from TLC Creations. I used White Jute from Really Reasonable Ribbon for my knot tying. I hope you will join our challenge! Click here and see what some of the rest of the RRR DT created and to play along!

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon May Blog Hop! If you arrived here from Linda's blog, you are in the right place! If you just happened along, be sure to start at the beginning at the RRR Blog
(I am the fourth stop, so you don't have far back to go!) so you
don't miss out on the awesome projects, fun news, and a prize from Really Reasonable Ribbon!

Our hop goes live at 6:30 AM CST.

Each 13th of the month it's the Really Reasonable Ribbon blog hop where we highlight the Ribbon Club! I LOVE Bonnie's choices for the May ribbon club package.
If you really love ribbon and would like to have a wonderful
assortment of ribbons sent to you automatically each month, just join
the Really Reasonable Ribbon Club!
Monthly ribbon club assortments are selected and pre-packed to
reflect a specific theme, color, or holiday season. The assortments
vary from month to month, but an average assortment has 5-8 different
ribbon styles and consists of 10-15 yards of ribbon. You will love
it! Take a peek:

The color combo in the Club package this month is one of my favorite color combinations. Pink and black ROCK! Pink is my favorite color!! But -- I decided to stretch myself and NOT make a pink card (those will come later in the month!) and make a neutral-toned card instead!

I used the gorgeous Black Satin Ribbon in the May Club package and created a "travel" card for a friend going on a big trip this summer. My Steamship Receipt image is by Rubbernecker Stamps, and the sentiment is made with rub-on letters. The Gunge Background #3 is also from Rubbernecker Stamps and is stamped on the left side with Brilliance White pigment ink. The black "leaves" for my flower are loops of Black Satin Ribbon. The strip up the middle is also the Black Satin Ribbon.

Bonnie will be giving away a May Ribbon Monthly Club kit to a random commenter so please make sure and comment on all of the girls' projects to increase your chances of winning!

Now off to BONNIE'S
blog, where you can see that not only is she an amazing businesswoman
and our fearless leader, but she is an amazing designer as well!

Thanks for stopping by today!If you are in a find-a-deal mood, check out my GARAGE SALE.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Welcome to the 3rd annual Mother of All Blog Hops sponsored by There She Goes Clear Stamps! Yesterday and today customers and TSG Trendsetters will be
featuring some of our favorite There She Goes Clear Stamp sets! Not
only that, we’re going to give YOU a chance to win some fabulous prizes!

Friday, May 11, 2012

Yesterday's Splitcoaststampers Ways To Use It Challenge was to incorporate a bird on your creation. I immediately thought of the fabulous collage birds that Della carries at the I Brake For Stamps website. I stamped my Flying Swallow Collage from I Brake For Stamps using VersaFine Onyx Black ink, then sponged in some Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky ink. The beautiful Wild Orchid flowers are also available at IBFS here.

The school year is winding down! Two more days next week and then off to see my daughter in Utah for a week! I am looking forward to summer!

I love Jen's Sketches! It makes the rest of the card go together easily, as the sketch is the hardest part, I think! I used Hambo Stamps' Floating Pig (available as a digi with flowers as well) and Just Pigcause for my images. I stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored the pig with Copic markers. I pieced the balloon. Pink is my favorite color, so my clouds had to be pink :)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

I live in a town where a scooter would be perfect to get around. It's a small town, and not really a lot of traffic compared to most places. My scooter would have to be pink of course, but I think this one in my card today is pretty cute too!

I used Jen's Deconstructed Sketch 50 for my layout (love her sketches - so inspiring to me!), and the designer paper I still had out from last week -- October Afternoon's Sidewalks Collection. My images are from Unity's March 2010 Kit of the Month - one I got with a sale last week. So new to me! The inside says "I miss you." This will go to my daughter - she is a scooter kind of girl too!

Got some happy email today that I will share in a few days -- LOVE the summer! Three more days of school for me (over the next two weeks) and I will be content! And by the way, I just got Draw Something on my Kindle Fire and am addicted. If you want to play, my ID is SQJAR!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

May is flying by - just like the rest of spring! I love seeing all the
different blooming flowers in the neighborhood and around town. If you
want to see some beautiful flowers, head over to the IBFS Challenge blog where we have a fun FLORAL challenge for you!

I went in a little different direction from the rest of the team, and created a whimsical card - still has florals!

I used Happy Hannah Painting
for my images. I stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black ink on Neenah Solar
White and then embossed with Ranger Clear Embossing Powder. I colored in
with Copics, added a strip of crazy Basic Grey DP, a rolled flower,
some buttons, and a sticker that says "Create."
I love to create!